Agenda and minutes

The Board is to receive feedback from those grant recipients who successfully applied for funding from the area board in 2013/14.

The Board received feedback from those grants recipients who had successfully applied for funding.

The Chairman is to welcome everyone to the meeting of the Area Board.

The Chairman, Councillor Graham Payne, welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Trowbridge Area Board.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Nick Blakemore, Cllr Horace Prickett and Mike Franklin (Wiltshire Fire & Rescue).

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 10 December 2014.

Decision

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 December 2014 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

Cllr Dennis Drewett declared a non-pecuniary interest in the ‘Friends of Trowbridge Park’ funding application as he was a committee member.

To include the following:

      i.        Integrated Performance Management Report.

The Chairman drew attention to the ‘Integrated Performance Management Report’ as detailed within the agenda. 

To note the written reports and receive any updates from the following:

      i.        Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC)

    ii.        Wiltshire Police

   iii.        Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

   iv.        Trowbridge Community Area Future (TCAF)

    v.        Town and Parish Councils

Updates from partners were received as follows:

      i.        Wiltshire Police

The written update was noted and Insp. Chris Chammings stated that there had been a reduction in crime over the last year. A question was asked in relation to anti-social behaviour, with specific reference to the consumption of alcohol in public places. Insp. Chammings stated that drinking still remained an issue but anti-social behaviour was down.

    ii.        Wiltshire and Swindon Police and Crime Commissioner

The Commissioner drew attention to the community messaging leaflets that were circulated to attendees.

   iii.        Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

The written update was noted.

   iv.        Trowbridge Community Area Future (TCAF)

The written update was noted. The need for further funding for TCAF was raised and a request was made for a show of support from Trowbridge Area Board. The history of funding of TCAF was discussed. The role of TCAF was explained to those in attendance and it was noted that they largely depend on volunteers. It was heard that if TCAF could be supported, their projects - such as the Polish project - could continue their good work. It was heard that £84,000 of funding had been secured from the Arts Council for the Town Hall project and another £94,000 had been recently secured to carry on this project. A request for a further one off grant was raised to go forward with the support of the Area Board.

Cllr Seed stated that it would be highly unlikely that there would be any revenue funding next year as Wiltshire Council was facing a 13% cut to local government funding. It was heard that some community areas would fund their community area partnerships in different ways and that these organisations could seek out their own funding sources; should they choose to do so. Cllr Seed stated that if the money was not available then it could not be given out. The Chairman suggested the need for the Town Council to meet with the Chairman and others to secure the required funding. Members discussed how austerity would impact on the role of the Council and how funding would change. The group’s application for charitable status was being considered.

    v.        Town and Parish Councils

Updates were received as follows:

·         Town Council – They had agreed to award £2,000 grant to ‘Friends of Trowbridge Park’.  There would be a long series of Magna Carter events and activities taking part in the town this year. The ‘Our Place Project’ had received DCLG funding and the business improvement district was interviewing for a consultant to take the project forward. The ‘Discover Trowbridge’ brand was now well established and was being used by other organisations around the town. The Chairman stated that the Town Clerk was doing a sponsored 800m bike ride for charity.

·         Southwick – A puffin crossing went into commission last Wednesday but was unfortunately damaged by bad weather and would be re-erected.

Wiltshire Councillors appointed as representatives to Outside Bodies will report on any recent news, to include:

      i.        Transforming Trowbridge

    ii.        Collaborative Schools

   iii.        Trowbridge Shadow Community Operations Board.

i.              Transforming Trowbridge – There was a ‘state of flux’ due to the Chairman’s resignation and work had begun to recruit a replacement. They were looking at future development plans, as outlined in the core strategy.

ii.             Collaborative Schools – There was no update.

iii.            Trowbridge Shadow Community Operations Board – A written update was provided.

Community Area Grants

To ask Councillors to consider 2 funding applications to the community area grants fund scheme (Appendix 1)

1.1  Friends of Trowbridge Park - Improvements to lighting in Trowbridge Park - £5,000 requested

1.2  Trowbridge Westbourne Sports Club - Purchase of new crockery and cutlery - £994.33 requested

Community Area Grants

Councillors were asked to consider two funding applications to the community area grants fund scheme.

1.1  Friends of Trowbridge Park - Improvements to lighting in Trowbridge Park - £5,000 requested

Decision:

To approve £5,000 of funding for improvements to lighting in Trowbridge Park.

1.2  Trowbridge Westbourne Sports Club - Purchase of new crockery and cutlery - £994.33 requested

Decision:

To refuse funding for the purchase of new crockery and cutlery.

After discussion by the members of the Area Board it was agreed that

the request for grant funding be refused for the following reason:-

That the applicant, being a private members sports club, failed to demonstrate the benefit that would accrue to the wider community should a grant be approved on the basis of information provided in their application submission.  The applicant was advised to discuss any future application with the Trowbridge Community Area Manager prior to submission in order that the criteria for community benefit was more evident in their application.

The Board is to receive a presentation from Tim Martienssen (Head of Service Delivery) on Trowbridge Campus Options.

Tim Martienssen (Head of Service Delivery) explained that the potential viability and the development value of the site were being examined. There was a need to understand the scale and potential impact of the development. The future development of Cradle Bridge was also raised. It was explained that this presentation did not include development proposals but was instead looking at the practicality of the ideas. A need to make the site more attractive was discussed and a need to get more people walking rather than driving around the town was raised.

An opportunity for questions was provided and potential logistical details of the project were discussed, as well as concerns in regards to car parking. It was explained that this development was likely to be phased and it would take at least four years to complete. Residential care and multi-use spaces were also discussed as a possibility.

The Chairman stated that the Cabinet would be pressured to ensure Trowbridge was not forgotten. Cllr Seed stated that there was a will from Cabinet to support the Trowbridge Rejuvenation Project.

The Board is to receive an update from Maggie Rae (Corporate Director, Wiltshire Council), Ted Wilson (NHS Wiltshire), and Iain Tulley (AWP) in regards to Charterhouse and Specialist Dementia Hospital Care in Wiltshire. Emma Cooper (Healthwatch Wiltshire) will present on the current consultation on specialist dementia hospital care

The Board received a presentation from Ted Wilson (NHS Wiltshire) and Iain Tulley (AWP) in regards to the Charterhouse and Specialist Dementia Hospital Care in Wiltshire. Emma Cooper (Healthwatch Wiltshire) discussed the consultation in relation to specialist dementia hospital care. It was heard that there was different ways for people to contribute to the consultation, including 1:1 interviews, meeting with stakeholders and a survey.

The role of Healthwatch was explained and it was heard that they would independently facilitate the consultation. It was explained that in January 2013 Avon and Wiltshire Partnership Trust temporarily stopped admitting patients to the 24 beds in Charter House, Trowbridge. Since February 2013, people had been able to access in-patient assessments in Salisbury, Bath and Swindon. The CCG and Council consulted widely to develop a Dementia Strategy for 2014-2021 and a need for specialist dementia hospital care located in the county was raised. The CCG commissioned AWP to work with independent contractors to develop options and the consultation would consider where the beds should be sited. It was explained that no more than 120 people a year would need to be admitted to a specialist dementia hospital; a majority of these people had physical long term conditions.

Wiltshire CCG commissioned 20 specialist beds each year and it was asked where these beds should be based. Three options were made available for public comment and the consultation would end 10 March 2015, namely: Charterhouse, Trowbridge; Avesbury Ward, Devizes and Anblescroft South, Salisbury. The availability of specialist dementia care beds was discussed and it was explained that these beds were for severe dementia suffers. The Council was looking to ring fence further dementia beds and, at times, specialist support was required.

Ian Tulley discussed the potential future of Charterhouse and explained that it could be used by another NHS body or marketed for the highest possible value. Travel challenges in Wiltshire were discussed in a crisis situation and it was stressed that Salisbury would not be a suitable solution for those in Trowbridge who required urgent medical attention.

The Police and Crime Commissioner is to consult with the Board in regards to the precept.

Angus Macpherson, Police and Crime Commissioner, consulted the Area Board on the precept. It was heard that the consultation would be open from January to February 2015. It was heard that public confidence in the Wiltshire and Swindon Police was at 87% and victim satisfaction was at 88%. The Commissioner explained that there was a very large gap in funding and costs, and it was necessary for further savings to be found. The Board heard that the Commissioner had the lowest precept in the South West and a £3.06 increase per annum was being proposed; £3.3M was needed to be found to fill the funding gap.

Cllr Seed clarified that Wiltshire Council’s proportion of the council tax had not been increased year on year and that this did not relate to the precept.

Councillor Jonathon Seed will talk about his responsibilities for Communities, Campuses, Area Boards, Leisure, Libraries and Flooding, as well as responding to any questions.

The visiting Cabinet Member, Cllr Jonathon Seed, discussed his role as Cabinet Member for Communities, Campuses, Area Boards, Leisure, Libraries and Flooding. Cllr Seed discussed the future of libraries and the need for volunteers to become involved. No libraries had been closed and some opening hours had been extended.

An update is to be provided by Siobainn Chaplin (Youth and Prevention, Wiltshire Council) on the progress of the Local Youth Network.

Siobainn Chaplin (Youth & Prevention, Wiltshire Council) spoke to the Board in regards to the LYN management group’s meeting in December 2014. Numerous issues had been addressed and Trowbridge had now recruited a Community Youth Officer and an apprentice to support the voluntary sector. Their next meeting would be in February 2015.

An opportunity for questions was provided. A question was asked in relation to youth provision and specifically youth clubs in the county. It was explained that a needs assessment would take place to consult people on their requirements. Community mapping had started which looked at all youth activities and clubs in the Trowbridge Community Area. 

A report is to be circulated at the meeting.

The CATG made the following recommendations for the approval of the Board:

2.1 It was agreed to recommend to the Area Board to allocate £600 for pedestrian and traffic surveys in relation to a request for a crossing on Hilperton Road, Trowbridge close to the point where The Beeches forms a junction with Hilperton Road.

2.2 It was agreed to recommend to the Area Board to allocate £600 for traffic

surveys in relation to a request for a crossing across the Southwick Road near to College Gardens / Broadley Park, North Bradley

2.3 It was agreed to recommend to the Area Board to approve the 2015/16 list of proposed highway maintenance schemes (Appendix 1)

Decision:

To approve all three of the CATG recommendations.

The Chairman will take any items of urgent business..

There was no urgent business.